Annual construction in 2012 was up 9.2%, the first year-over-year gain since before the financial crisis. Figures for November were revised upward to a 0.1% increase from an initially estimated 0.3% decline.

Private residential construction increased 2.2% to $308.15 billion for December, likely aided by rebuilding efforts in the wake of superstorm Sandy that hit the Northeast in late October. The Commerce Department said in a separate report this week that Sandy destroyed $35.8 billion in private assets and $8.6 billion in government property.

Spending on private home-building was up 16.8% in all of 2012, compared to a 0.8% drop in 2011.